This film offers two hugely valuable lessons to writers of all genres. The first is about the inciting incident and when it needs to happen. The second is about unlikeable characters and how to handle them. In Gosford Park, it's the victim who is unlikeable and that adds an interesting dimension to the murder mystery storyline.

-V.

"Notice where your sympathy and empathy lie. And ask yourselves, how does the writer create this? And most importantly, does it work in the context of what they're trying to achieve?" - Melanie Hill

Related Story Nerd Episodes

No Way Out (Season 8, Episode 4)

Death on the Nile (Season 2, Episode 7)

Crooked House (Season 9, Episode 1)

Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses 

For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.

To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.